Latest figures show that as of 8am today there are 242 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals.
The figure is down 22 on the same time yesterday.
There were 10 new admissions for Covid-19 between 8am today and 8am yesterday. During that same time, 26 people were discharged.
The bulk of these patients were in Dublin hospitals, with 26 patients at the Mater, 25 at St James’s and 24 each at Beaumont and Tallaght University Hospital.
There were 18 people admitted to hospital with the virus over the previous 24 hours.
There were 60 patients in intensive care with the virus, the most of which – 11- were at St James’s. Of the 60, 38 were on ventilators.
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Meanwhile, the roll-out of the vaccination programme is continuing this weekend amid renewed appeals from health officials to people to adhere strictly to Covid-19 restrictions.
They have asked people to keep social contacts within the permitted number and not to let their guard down over the Easter weekend and beyond.
All across the country today, thousands more of our most vulnerable will receive either their 1st or 2nd #COVID19 vaccine. We are on the exit route from an awful year if we can safely steer the course for a little while. Happy & Safe Easter from @HSELive.
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) April 3, 2021
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has appealed for people to keep social contacts low this weekend, to only meet up with others outdoors, to avoid crowds, and not to travel in cars with people from other households.
Earlier this week he warned that the risk of a fourth wave of infection in the coming weeks is very high.
Chief Executive of the HSE Paul Reid said there could be a high price to pay in terms of hospitalisations and intensive care if people take a break from fighting the virus over Easter.
Meanwhile the roll-out of the vaccination program will continue this weekend.
GPs from some of the smaller Dublin practices will continue to operate out of the Helix vaccination hub at Dublin City University throughout this weekend where they will administer 6,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to the over 70s.
The GP-led vaccination centres at Munster Technology University in Cork and Merlin Park in Galway will also be in operation to administer another 2,700 vaccinations to same age group.
In addition, vaccinations for people with medical conditions that put them at very high risk of severe illness will be carried out at Beaumont Hospital, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, the Aviva stadium in Dublin, and at the Radisson Hotel in Limerick.
About 1,000 housebound over 70s have so far been vaccinated by the National Ambulance Service.
Another 258 are due to be vaccinated in Cork and Kerry this weekend.
Meanwhile 3,640 people with no symptoms have been tested for the virus over the past two days at the seven temporary walk-in test centres now open at Balbriggan, Finglas, Navan, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Naas and Crumlin.
Over 14,000 asymptomatic people were tested at similar centres last week with 3% testing positive.
